Washington QB Jake Browning could be compensated for endorsements under the proposed billGETTY IMAGES
College athletes in the state of Washington could be "paid by sponsors or companies seeking their endorsements" under a bill being proposed in the state House this legislative session, according to Jim Camden of the Spokane SPOKESMAN-REVIEW. The proposal comes from Washington state Rep. Drew Stokesbary and "wouldn’t require schools to pay their athletes but would allow others to pay them 'for services actually provided.'" Stokesbary said that his proposal, which was pre-filed last week for the session that starts Monday, would cover a company paying Univ. of Washington QB Jake Browning to "appear in a shoe commercial and receive a payment." The NCAA has "rules against college athletes receiving payments for endorsements or hiring agents." However, Camden notes the bill would "make it a violation of the state’s consumer protection law to enforce those rules against college athletes in Washington." The proposal "doesn’t address whether the schools themselves could have rules against their athletes receiving payments for endorsements or appearances." Stokesbary "doesn’t see much chance that his bill, as is, will pass the Legislature and become law this year." He instead wants to "start the conversation around the issue of paying college athletes, with the possibility of rewriting it in the months ahead" (Spokane SPOKESMAN-REVIEW, 1/9).
WHAT ABOUT THE PLAYERS? USA TODAY's Nancy Armour writes the "drumbeat for college athletes getting paid in some fashion has gotten louder in recent years, and it’s about to become a roar" following the performance of Clemson QB Trevor Lawrence, a true freshman, in the CFP National Championship on Monday. Armour writes as long as Lawrence stays in school, "every game Clemson plays, every spectacular play Lawrence makes will be a reminder that while the adults in the NCAA system are getting rich, the kids who make it all possible are not." Lawrence "can’t even get royalties" from the No. 16 jerseys that will "become a staple in the wardrobe of every Tigers fan" (USA TODAY, 1/9).
